Closure cap and package



Dec. 3, 1940. E, SCOFIELD 2,223,742

CLOSURE CAP AND PACKAGE I Filed Sept. 25, 1956 If "11" 1 I 4 1 &

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M ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 3, 1940 mm OFFlCE 2,223,742 o osUnEoAr AND PACKAGE Edgar Scofield, New

chor- Cap & Closure Corporation,

York, N. Y., assignor to An- Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 25, 1936, Serial No. 102,519

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to the sealing art, and more particularly to a closure cap, sealed prescribes standard finishes for various types of closures, has published specifications for glass finishes for screw types of closures. Glass companies are reluctant to incur the expense necessary for the purchase of molds, some six or more for each machine, to manufacture special glass finishes. Hence, packers are compelled to be satisfied with the closure caps which fit the glass finishes or else incur the expense of glass mold equipment and probably pay, in addition, a premium for the special finish. The relatively short skirt or flange on the'general type of closure is less attractive than a closure with a longer skirt. Many packers would prefer theiatter if they could be obtained. In addition, the caps with the shorter skirt are harder to grasp for unscrewing and handling, which is particularlyobjectionable where the cap is applied and removed a number of times during the consumption of the product. Caps with short skirts are par ticularly objectionable in smaller sizes because they are even more difficult to handle and to apply and remove.

The present invention aims to eliminate or minimize the above difficulties by providing an inexpensive closure which can be made with a 40 skirt having the'proper length to please the packer without requiring a special glass finish. Such caps are particularly desirable with various types of packages, where the packages remain exposed to view during consumption, making attractiveness essential, and where the caps are removed and applied many times before the contents are consumed. The invention also aims to provide an improved method of making the closure.

An object of the present invention is to pro vide an improved closure cap adapted to be applied to glass finishes of the usual type, with a deeper skirt and a more attractive appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method of making the closures halve ing the advantages described herein.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the cost of a package having a deep skirt cap applied thereto.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure cap having a deep skirt effect with a 5' minimum space in the interior thereof for collection of the contents of the container during consumption thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure cap adapted to prevent wrinking or dis- 10 tortion of the liner therein.

A further object of the invention is to prevent deformation of the cover part of the cap when the cap is screwed on a container.

A' still further object of the invention is to give the packers and users of closure caps a greater choice in the selection of closures without'requiring special types of glass finishes.

Other and'further objects of the invention willbe obvious upon an understanding of the 11- 20 lustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein Fig. l is an exploded view, in perspective, of 30 the parts of the closure cap;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a sealed container, partly in section, showing the invention embodied in a closure cap having a skirt slightly longer than the usual commercial 35 screw cap; L

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a closure, partly in section, showing the invention embodied in a closure cap having a relatively long depending skirt;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified form of inner member;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing the modified form of inner member illustrated in Fig. 4, inserted into a closure cap;

Fig. 6 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a closurecap provided with a retaining ledge to support the inner member and liner;

Fig. '7 is an elevational view of a closure embodying the invention provided with screw means 50 of the continuous thread type; and

Fig. 8 is a view, partly in section, of a modified form of innermember inserted in a closure c ap.

Described generally, the present invention provides a closure cap composed of an outer closure 5 containing therein, in inverted position, a member adapted to form a seat for a sealing liner, which liner forms a tight and secure seal against a container rim when the closure cap is applied to a container and prevents deformation of the cover part of the closure cap during sealing. The inner inverted member enables an outer closure cap with a comparatively deep skirt to be applied to a container having a standard glass finish with the liner therein forming a tight seal to prevent leakage or spoilage of the container contents.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown, in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, a. container closure comprising a closure member I having a cover portion 5 and a depending skirt 6 adapted to contain in inverted position, so that its closed end faces downwardly, a cup-shaped member 2, which forms a seat for a sealing liner 4.

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the relation of the closure member I, inner member 2 and sealing liner 4 just prior to assembly. Figs. 2 and 3 show the container closure assembled and preferably provided with retaining lugs of the type illustrated in the John C. Gibbs application, Serial No. 9,642. The skirt of the outer closure member I is deeper than the skirt or flange of the inner inverted member 2 to provide a cap having a relatively long skirt with an inturned edge I having suitable container engaging means thereon, such as lugs 9, at the lower part of the cap skirt. The lugs 9 are adapted to cooperate with lugs I I on the container, which are preferably provided with a stop face I2.

The inner member 2, illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is adapted to be frictionally retained in position within the outer cover portion I by making the outside diameter of the flange of the inner member slightly greater than the inside diameter of the closure member skirt. When the inner member has been inserted into the closure member, the resilience of the material of which the flange is composed will cause it to exert an outward force against the walls of the closure member to frictionally retain it in position. The liner 4 may be made slightly oversize and thus also caused to retain itself frictionally within the closure member when once inserted therein, or it may be caused to adhere, by an adhesive at 8 (Fig. 3), to the bottom of the inner member. It will be understood that the inwardly projecting lugs I may be utilized for holding both the member 2 and the liner 4 in the cap. To improve the appearance of the package, a ledge or bead l4 (Fig. 2), substantially equal in diameter to the outside diameter of the container closure cap, maybe provided on the container at a point spaced slightly below the lower edge of the closure cap.

To facilitate inserting the cup-shaped member 2 within the closure member, the cup-shaped member may be provided with an inturned flange or edge at its open end slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the skirt of the closure member to prevent marring the inside of the cap in any way, or the skirt of the closure member may be flared outwardly sufficiently to permit entry of the flange of the inner member. After the flange of the cup-shaped member has once been started within the skirt of the closure member, it may be pushed to the upper portion of the closure member without any difficulty.

Fig. 4 illustrates a modified form of inner member I3 in which the flange is provided with fluting I5, whereby the inner member may be frictionally retained within a closure, as shown in Fig. 5. If desired, other similar means, such as corrugations or projections, may be utilized on the inner or outer members to perform the function of retaining the inner inverted member within the outer closure member and of increasing the resiliency or flexibility of the flange.

The inner member and liner need not be frictionally retained, but may be held in place by a retaining ledge I 9 rolled into the skirt of the outer closure member (Fig. 6). Such a retaining ledge facilitates the utilization of a loose fit between the inner member 2 and the liner and the skirt of the cap, which permits the liner and inner member to act as a washer in facilitating application and removal of the closure.

While the preferred form of the present invention contemplates the use of cooperating lugs to retain the cap on the container, if desired, screw means may be used instead and this type of closure is shown in Fig. 7. The utilization of lugs for retaining the cap on the container permits of quicker and easier application to and removal from a container and is preferred, for this reason, in many cases.

In Fig. 8, there is shown an inner member I! inserted into a closure member I so that the closed end of the inner member is at the top of the outer closure member. The inner member is provided with an inturned flange I8 adapted to form a seat for a sealing liner 4. In this construction, the diameter of the skirt of the inner member at the closed end thereof may be slightly less and, at the open end thereof, slightly more than the inside diameter of the skirt of the outer member. An inner member of this type may be easily inserted and pushed to the upper portion of an outer closure member where it is adapted to form a liner seat. The curvature of the closed end of the inner member conforms to the curvature of the cover part of the closure to reinforce the latter and to prevent disfiguration thereof caused by impact with other packages or objects.

If desired, the liner may be caused to adhere to the bottom of the inner member by means of glue, paste or any other suitable adhesive material. If desired, the inner member and liner may be made of a diameter adapted to permit rotation of the outer cap with respect to the inner cap and liner at even slight pressures between the lips of a container and the sealing liner. This permits easier application and removal and prevents wrinkling of the liner occasioned by the usual slippage of the liner on the rim of a container during the sealing operation. The liner and inner member may be held in the cap by the retaining ledge I9 or by the inturned part of the outer cap at the lower edge thereof.

The closures embodying the present invention are preferably made by stamping the outer closure I and the inner member 2 with the usual stamping presses. Thereafter, these parts are assembled and the liners 4 inserted in the outer closure in abutting relation to the inner member 2. The lower edge of the cap is then turned inwardly and the sealing lugs I formed therein. By utilizing this method of manufacture, the inwardly turned edge of the cap and the lugs formed therein decrease the diameter of the lower portion of the cap sufiiciently to prevent the member 2 and the liner 4 from dropping out of the cap, even though these parts are sufficiently loose in the cap to readily rotate during application of the cap to the container. It will be understood. of course. that the retaining ledge tively long depending l9, shown in Fig. 6, or the screw threads shown in Fig. 7, may be rolled in the container cap after the members 2 and 4 are inserted therein. In fact, the screw threads may be sufliciently small'in diameter to serve asholding means for the inserted parts.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an improved package in which the closure may have any desired length of skirt without change in the standard glass finish. This permits the packer to use a larger selection of closures at a minimum extra cost. Furthermore, the inner closure member serves a two-fold additional function. First, it prevents the rim of the container from indenting the outer closure when the cap is screwed on a container. Such denting or deformation impairs the appearance of the cap. In addition, the inner member can be made as shown in Fig. 8 to reinforce the cover part of the outer closure against contact with other containers or extraneous objects, as well as to prevent marring of the closure during application. The inner member can also be made to serve as a washer to prevent moving of the liner during sealing and to facilitate application and removal of screw closures. The exterior of the closure may be decorated in any suitable manner and may have knurling, flutes or other configurations for improving the appearance and facilitating grasping by the user.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a sealing closure, the combination of a closure cap having a cover portion and a relaskirt, a member in said closure having a top and a peripheral flange, the flange of said member engaging the underside of the cover of the closure and the top of said member being spaced sufliciently from the cover of the closure to permit an extra height cap to be applied to a regular height glass finish, the top of the inverted member forming a flat surface for a sealing liner, the flange of said member fitting loosely in the skirt of the closure to permit free rotation therebetween to give a washer eifect to facilitate application and removal of the closure, a sealing liner seated against the top of said member, and container engaging means in the lower part of the skirt of said closure below said member adapted to prevent said member from coming out of the closure cap without interfering with its rotatability with respect to the closure.

2. In a sealing closure, the combination of a closure cap having a cover portion and a depending skirt, a member in said closure rotatable with respect thereto, having a top and a depending flange, the flange of said member engaging the underside of the cover of the closure and the top being spaced substantially from the cover of the closure to permit an extra height cap to be used on a standard height glass finish without impairing the sealing efficiency of the closure, and a sealing liner seated against the top of said member, the lower edge of said skirt being turned inwardly with container engaging means formed therein, said container engaging means being adapted to prevent said member from being removed from said closure.

3. In a sealing closure, the combination of a closure cap having an upwardly domed cover portion and a relatively long smooth cylindrical depending skirt, a member in said closure rotatable with respect thereto having a tOp and a depending flange, the flange of said member engaging the underside of the cover of the closure to space the top of said member a substantial distance from the cover of the closure cap to permit an extra height cap to be used on a standard height glass finish without impairing the sealing efficiency of the closure, a sealing liner seated against the top of said member, the lower edge of said skirt being turned inwardly, and concealed screw means formed from said inturned edge for securing said closure cap on a container, said member being adapted to rotate within the closure to facilitate application and removal of the cap and to improve the appearance of the cap by affording a greater depth with a given height of glass finish.

4. In a sealing closure, the combination of a closure cap having an upwardly domed cover portion and a relatively smooth cylindrical depending skirt, a member in said closure rotatable with respect thereto having a top and a depending flange, the edge of said flange being turned inwardly to facilitate insertion into a closure cap, said flange and inwardly turned edge engaging the underside of the cover of the closure to space the top of said member a substantial distance from the cover of the closure cap to vpermit an extra height cap to be applied to a standard height glass finish without impairing the sealing efficiency of the closure, a sealing liner seated against the top of said member, the lower edge of said skirt being turned inwardly, and concealed screw means formed from said inturned edge for securing said closure cap on a container, said inturned edge and said concealed securing means being of a smaller diameter than said member thereby to prevent said member from coming out of the cap, said member being adapted to rotate within the closure to facilitate application and removal of the cap, said member being adapted also to improve the appearance of the cap by affording a greater height of closure with a given glass finish.

EDGAR SCOFIELD. 

